Knotting mechanism for coil springs



Aug. 21, 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet1 IN V EN TOR.

/l/a7 aka JA/zbarz B Y I 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Aug. 21, 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet3 Aug. 21, 1956 M. J. NELSON 2,759,500

KNOTTING MECHANISM FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed March 18-, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet4- IN V EN T 0R.

J agfUVJ I/ekm United States Patent 2,759,500 KNOTTING MECHANISM FORCOIL SPRINGS Martin J. Nelson, Chicago, 11]., assignor to WunderlichSpring Machinery Company, a corporation of Illinois Application March18, 1954, Serial No. 417,203 14 Claims. (Cl. 140-101) This inventionrelates to knotting and/or crimping mechanisms for coil spring producingmachines. The knotting mechanism of this invention, while generallyapplicable to various types of coil spring producing machines, isparticularly adaptable for use in the coil spring producing machineshown and described in William E. Wunderlich Patent No. 2,604,202,issued July 22, 1952.

Coil spring producing machines, such for example as the one disclosed inthe aforementioned patent, usually include a coiling mechanism, knottingmechanisms, a stacker mechanism, and a transfer mechanism for advancingthe coil springs from the coiling mechanism through the knottermechanisms to the stacker mechanism. The knotter mechanisms knot theends of the wire of the coil spring by wrapping the ends of the wireabout the end convolutions thereof. At the same time, the endconvolutions of the coil spring may be also crimped into offset form.

The knotting and/or crimping mechanism of this invention is animprovement over that disclosed in said William E. Wunderlich patent.The knotting and/or crimping mechanism of this invention as well as thatof said William E. Wunderlich patent for knotting coil springs comprisesa die for receiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted,a gauge member for positioning the end of the wire of the coil springwith respect to the die, a guiding and clamping member for guiding andpositioning the end convolution of the coil spring with respect to thedie, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution of thecoil spring to the die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of thewire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedknotting mechanism wherein the gauge member, the guiding and clampingmember, the pair of opposed slides and the knotter gear are operated intimed relation in a new and improved manner.

Briefly, the knotting mechanism of this invention includes a carriagepivoted at one end to a first rotating shaft and rotatably carrying theknotter gear at its other end. A second shaft is carried by the carrierintermediate its ends and a mutilated driving gear is fixed to the firstshaft for rotation therewith. A pair of gears are mounted on the secondshaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and the other ofsaid gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gear forrotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals. A box cam isfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith and a link which ispivoted at one end to the second shaft has a cam follower at its otherend received in the box cam. Means are provided for pivotally mountingthe link intermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that the boxcam rotates the carriage about the first shaft to move the knotter gearto knotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates the knotter gear through the pair of gears during thosepredetermined intervals. Preferably the means for pivotally mounting thelink intermediate its ends includes a second link which is pivoted atone end to the first link and which is pivoted at its other end to anadjustably mounted block whereby the knotting position of the knottergear may be adjusted at will. The knotting mechanism also includes alocking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell which is ice fixed tothe first shaft for rotation therewith, and also a member. fixed to thepair of gears adjacent the locking cam and {having a recess engaging thehigh dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pairof gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of thelocking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals.

The knotting mechanism also includes a third rotating shaft and meansincluding a fourth rotating shaft interconnecting the first and thirdrotating shafts to drive them in synchronism. A pair of pivoted arms areprovided for operating the opposed slides toward and away from the die,and a pair of cams are fixed to the third shaft for moving the slidestoward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring tothe die during said predetermined intervals. A fifth shaft is providedfor operating the guiding and clamping member and here a cam is fixed onthe fourth shaft and a cam follower is located on the fifth shaft, thecam and cam follower operating the guiding and clamping member duringsaid predetermined intervals. A sixth shaft is provided for operatingthe gauge member. Here a cam is fixed to the first shaft and a camfollower is provided on the sixth shaft, the cam follower engaging thecam for operating the gauge member at the beginning of the predeterminedintervals.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of constructionof the knotting mechanism and in the cooperative relationships betweenthe component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanyingspecification, claims and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a coil spring producing machine, suchas that of the William E. Wunderlich patent aforementioned, andincluding the knotting and/ or crimping mechanisms of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a back view of one of the knotting mechanisms with the coverplate removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a coil spring which has been knottedand/or crimped by the knotting mechanism of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the knotting mechanism ofthis invention and taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the front of the knotting mechanismof. this invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the knotting mechanism andtaken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views of the adjustable pivot shownin the upper right hand portion of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 being takensubstantially along the line 88 of Fig. 9 and Fig. 9 being takensubstantially along the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective'view showing the various parts foroperating the gauge member, the guiding and clamping member, the pair ofopposed slides, and the knotter gear;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing on enlarged scale the manneroperating the knotter gear;

Fig. 12 is a substantially horizontal view taken substan tially alongthe line 1212 of Fig. 6.

Referring first to Fig. l, a coil spring producing machine is generallydesignated at 10 and it may be of the type shown and described in theaforementioned William E. Wunderlich patent. The machine 10, embodyingthe knotting and/or crimping mechanism of this invention, operates toproduce coil springs 11 such as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the endconvolutions 12 of the spring 11 are knotted as at 13. The endconvolutions 12 of the spring 11 may also be provided, if desired, withoffsets 14.

The coil spring producing machine includes a reel arrangement 15 forfeeding wire to be formed into the coil springs and a coiling mechanism16 for coiling the wire into the double-ended coil springs 11. When thecoil springs are thus formed by the coiling mechanism, they are graspedby fingers 17 carried by radial arms 18 of a transfer mechanism 19 whichis intermittently rotated through a Geneva motion (not shown). The coilsprings thus formed are advanced to a knotting mechanism 20 wherein oneend of the coil springs is knotted, and if desired, crimped into anoffset. The coil springs are then advanced to a second knottingmechanism 21 where the other end of the coil springs are knotted and mayalso be crimped into an offset. The knotted coil springs are thenadvanced by the transfer mechanism 19 to a stacker mechanism designatedat 22.

The coiling mechanism 16 and the stacker mechanism 22 are supported by acolumn 24 carried by a base 25. The knotting mechanism 20 is supportedby a column 26 carried by the base and the knotting mechanism 21 issupported by a column 27 carried by the base 25. The knotting mechanisms20 and 21 are identical in construction, they being arranged on oppositesides of the transfer mechanism 19 so that one end of the coil spring isfirst applied to the knotter mechanism 20 and then the other end thereofis applied to the knotting mechanism 21.

The knotting mechanism includes a substantially cylindrical housing 30having access openings and an internal partition 31. It is also providedwith a removable rear cover plate 32 and a removable front cover plate33. As shown in more detail in Figs. 4 and S the front cover plate 33 iscentrally provided with a die 35 having an opening 36 for accommodatingthe knotter gear. Where the end convolutions of the coil spring are tobe offset as indicated at 14 in Fig. 3, the die 35 is provided with apair of projections 37 and 38. A pair of opposed slides 39 and 42 areslidably mounted in the front cover plate 33. An abutment member 40 issuitably secured to the slide 39 and a block 41 is adjustably positionedwith respect to the abutment member 40 and is clamped in adjustedposition on the slide 39. In a like manner, the slide 42 is providedWith an abutment member 43 and a block 44 is adjustably positioned withrespect to the abutment member 43 and is clamped to the slide 42. Theblocks 41 and 44 are provided with recesses for accommodating theprojections 37 and 38 on the die 35 for forming the offsets 14 in theend convolutions of the coil spring 11. A lever 45 is pivoted at 46 tothe front cover 33 and is provided with an extension for engaging theabutment member 40. A pin 47 is carried by the slide 39 and is engagedby the extending end of the lever 45 for retracting the slide 39 andhence the block 41. In a like manner a lever 48 is pivoted at 49 to thefront cover 33 and is provided with an extension engaging the abutmentmember 43. Here also the slide 42 carries a pin 50 for retracting theslide 42 and hence the block 44. The upper ends of the levers 45 and 48are provided with cam followers 51 and 52, respectively which are drawntoward each other by a spring 53 interconnecting the two levers 45 and48. The cam followers 51 and 52 engage a pair of cams 54 and 55respectively, carried by a shaft 56. As the shaft 56 is rotated, thecams 54 and 55 operate the levers 45 and 48 to move the slides 39 and 42and hence the blocks 41 and 44 toward and away from the die 35.

A gauge member 58 is pivoted to the front cover plate 33 at 59 and it isprovided at its upper end with a gauging surface 60 for positioning theend of the wire of the coil spring. One end of a link 61 is pivoted at62 to the gauge member 58 and the other end of the link is pivoted at 63to a block 64 which is adjustably mounted by adjusting screws 65 in anarm 66 carried by a shaft 67 journaled for oscillation in the end plate33. The gauge member 58 is urged to retracted position by a spring 68.As the shaft 67 is oscillated the gauge member 58 is oscillated aboutits pivot 59 for positioning the end of the Wire of the coil spring.

A guiding and clamping member 70 is pivoted at 71 to a block 72 carriedby the front cover plate 33. One end of a link 74 is pivoted at 73 tothe guiding and clamping member 70 and the other end of the link isprovided with a slot 76 for receiving a pin carried by an arm 77 securedto a shaft 79 journalled for rotation in the front cover plate 33. A cammember 79 is resiliently secured to the arm 77 by a spring mechanism 80.The arm 77 and hence the guiding and clamping member 70 are held inretracted position by a spring 81. As the shaft 78 is oscillated againstthe action of the spring 81 the guiding and clamping member 70 isadvanced toward the die 35 and continued movement of the arm 77 appliesspring pressure to the clamping and guiding member 70 through the springoperated arm 79 engaging the clamping and guiding member. When the shaft78 is oscillated in the opposite direction, the arm '77 and the guidingand clamping member 70 are retracted.

In the operation of the knotter mechanism thus far described, the end ofa coil spring is inserted over the die 35 by means of the transfermechanism 19. The gauging member 58 is advanced to accurately positionthe end of the wire of the coil spring and at substantially the sametime the guiding and clamping member 70 is advanced to accuratelyposition the end of the coil spring on the die 35. Then the slides 39and 42. with their blocks 41 and 44 are advanced to clamp the coilspring against the die 35. At this time, the offsets are formed into theend convolution of the coil spring. Then the knotter gear is raised forwrapping the end of the wire about the end convolution of the coilspring. Before the knotter gear knots the end of the wire, the gaugingdevice 58 is retracted. After the end convolution of the coil spring hasbeen so knotted, then the knotter gear is lowered, the slides 39 and 42and their blocks 41 and 44 are retracted and the guiding and clampingmember 70 is retracted. The knotted coil spring is then removed from thedie 35 by the transfer mechanism 19 and then the end of another coilspring is placed over the die 35 by the transfer mechanism for knottingthe same. Thus, the knotter mechanism is operated at predeterminedintervals for knotting the coil springs as they are presented thereto bythe transfer mechanism.

A shaft 85 is transversely mounted for rotation in the housing 30 bymeans of bearings 86 and 87. A carriage 88 is mounted at one end forrotation on the shaft 85 by a bearing portion 89. The other end of thecarriage 83 carries a pair of spaced plates 90 which rotatably mount aknotter gear 91 having a slot 92 for receiving the end of the wire ofthe coil spring for wrapping the same around the end convolution of thecoil spring. Intermediate its ends the carriage 88 carries one end of ashaft 94, the shaft 94 being secured in a suitable boss 95 on thecarriage 88. The other end of the shaft 94 is secured in a boss 96 on alever 97 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 85 by a bearing boss98. The shaft 94 so supported at its ends rotatably carries a gear 100which meshes with the knotter gear 91. The gear 100 is also providedwith a circular member 101 having an arcuate recess 102. The gear 100also carries a gear 103. The gear 100, the member 11. 1 and the gear 103rotate together on the shaft 94.

Secured to the shaft 85 for rotation therewith is a bOf. cam 105 havinga cam track 106. A cam follower 107 carried by one end of a link 108 isreceived in. the cam track 106. The other end of the link 108 isrotatably mounted on the shaft 94 by a bearing boss 109. One end of asecond link 110 including a pair of arms is pivoted to the link 108intermediate its ends by a pivot pin 11.1. The other end of the secondlink 110 is pivoted at 112 to a block 113 which is slidably mounted in atrack 114 of a block 115 secured to the front cover plate 33. A screw116 mounted in a bracket 117 operates to adjust the block 113 upwardlyand downwardly in the guide track 114. A locking screw 118 is utilizedfor lockingthe block 113 in adjusted position. As the box cam 105 isrotated, the links 108 and 110 operate to raise and lower the carriage88 and the shaft 94 carried thereby. This also operates to raise theknotter gear 91 to knotting position at desired or predeterminedintervals and then to retract the knotter gear to the lower position.

The box cam 105 carries a mutilated gear 120 having a portion of itsperiphery provided with gear teeth 121 and the remaining portion of itsperiphery recessed as indicated at 122. The gear teeth 121 of themutilated gear 120 engage at predetermined intervals the gear 103 on theshaft 94 for rotating the knotter gear 91 through several revolutions atpredetermined intervals. The mutilated gear 120 and hence the box cam105 carry a locking cam 123 having a high dwell 124 and a low dwell 125.The high dwell 124 of the locking cam 123 normally is received in therecess 102 of the circular member 101 to prevent rotation of the pair ofgears 100 and 103. When however the low dwell 125 of the locking cam 123comes adjacent the member 101, then the pair of gears 100 and 103 areunlocked so that they may be rotated by the mutilated gear 120. In thisway, the knotter gear 91 is normally positively locked against rotationbut is freed to rotate during predetermined intervals.

Secured to the shaft 85 is a cam 127 which engages a cam follower 128 ona crank arm 129 secured to the shaft 67. As the shaft 85 is rotated, thecam 127 and the cam follower 128 operate to oscillate the shaft 67 toadvance and retract the gauging member 58. The shaft 85 is continuouslyrotated by a bevel gear 133 secured thereto, the bevel gear 133 meshingwith a bevel gear 134 secured to a shaft 135 suitably mounted inbearings 136 and 137. The shaft 135 is driven by a gear 138 securedthereto which meshes with a gear 139 carried by a shaft 140 suitablymounted in a bearing 141 in the partition 31 and in a bearing boss 142in the rear cover plate 32. The shaft 135 carries a cam 144 which iscontacted by a cam follower 145 carried by an arm 146 secured to theshaft 78. As the shaft 135 is rotated, the cam 144 and the cam follower145 oscillate the shaft 78 to advance the positioning and clampingmember 70 and to retract the same.

The shaft 56 which carries the cams 54 and 55 for operating the slides39 and 42 is journaled for rotation by a bearing 148 in the front coverplate 33 and a bearing 149 in the partition 31. The shaft 56 is drivenby a gear 150 secured thereto which meshes with a gear 151 carried by ashaft 152. The gear 151 which is an idler gear meshes with the gear 139which is carried by the shaft 140. The shaft 140 which is the driveshaft for the knotting mechanism carries a sprocket wheel 154 which isconnected by a chain 155 to a sprocket wheel 156 carried by a shaft 157.The shaft 157 is driven by the power mechanism which drives the coiler16 and the transfer mechanism 19 so that the knotting mechanism 20 isdriven in timed relation with the coiler and the transfer mechanisms.

The other knotting mechanism 21 is of the same construction as theknotting mechanism 20, it being driven by a drive shaft 140' carrying asprocket wheel 154' connected by a chain 155' to a sprocket wheel 156carried by a shaft 157'. The shafts 157 and 157 are suitably gearedtogether so that both knotting mechanisms 20 and 21 are driven in timedrelation with respect to each other as well as in timed relation withrespect to the coiling mechanism 16 and the transfer mechanism 19.

The various shafts which drive the cams and gears which in turn operatethe gauge member, the positioning and clamping member, the clampingslides and the knotter gear are all continuously rotating shafts whichare keyed together for rotation. Accordingly, positive operation of theparts is assured and the parts are all operated in positive timedrelation. When the knotter gear 91 is not operating, it is maintained ina locked position. The

6 v upper or operating-position of theknot'ter' gear may be readilyadjusted, and the operating positions of the other parts of the knottingmechanism may also be readily adjusted.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has beendisclosed other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled inthe art upon reference to this disclosure and therefore this inventionis to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair ofopposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring tothe die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coilspring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvementconsisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end onsaid first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its otherend, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate i-ts ends, amutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith,a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshingwith the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervalswith the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear atpredetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotationtherewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having acam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means forpivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangementbeing such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said firstshaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at saidpredetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knottergear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals.

2. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair ofopposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring tothe die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coilspring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvementconsisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end onsaid first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its otherend, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, amutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith,a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshingwith the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervalswith the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear atpredetermined intervals, 2. box cam fixed to the first shaft forrotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft andhaving a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, andmeans for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, thearrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage aboutsaid first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at saidpredetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knottergear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals,said means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its endsincluding a second link pivoted at one end to the first linkintermediate the ends of the latter, and an adjustably mounted blockpivotally mounting the other end of said second link whereby theknotting position of said knotter gear may be adjusted.

3. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair ofopposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring tothe die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coilspring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvementconsisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end onsaid first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its otherend,..a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, amutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith,a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshingwith the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervalswith the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear atpredetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotationtherewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having acam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means forpivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangementbeing such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said firstshaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at saidpredetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knottergear through said pair of gears during said perdetermined intervals, alocking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the firstshaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gearsadjacent the locking owl and having a recess engaging the high dwell ofthe locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears butpermitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam isadjacent said member during said predetermined intervals.

4. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair ofopposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring tothe die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coilspring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvementconsisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end onsaid first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its otherend, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, amutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith,a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshingwith the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervalswith the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear atpredetermined intervals, :1 box cam fixed to the first shaft forrotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft andhaving a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, andmeans for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, thearrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage aboutsaid first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at saidpredetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knottergear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals,said means for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its endsincluding a second link pivoted at one end to the first linkintermediate the ends of the latter, and an adiustably mounted blockpivotally mounting the other end of said second link whereby theknotting position of said knotter gear may be adjusted, a locking camhaving a high dwell and a low dwell and fixed to the first shaft forrotation therewith, and a member fixed to the pair of gears adjacent thelocking cam and having a recess engaging the high dwell of the lockingcam normally to prevent rotation of the pair of gears but permittingrotation thereof when the low dwell of the locking cam is adjacent saidmember during said predetermined intervals.

5. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair ofopposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring tothe die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coilspring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvementconsisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end onsaid first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its otherend, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, amutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith,a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshingwith the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervalswith the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear atpredetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotationtherewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having acam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means forpivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangementbeing such that said box cam rotates said carriage about said firstshaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at saidpredetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knottergear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, athird rotating shaft, means interconnecting the first and third rotatingshafts to drive the same in synchronism, a pair of pivoted armsoperating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pairof cams fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the diefor clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die duringsaid predetermined intervals.

6. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted (a gaugemember for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring forpositioning the same with respect to the die), a pair of opposed slidesfor clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and aknotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring aboutthe clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of afirst rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaftand rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaftcarried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gearfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mountedon the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear andthe other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilateddrivinggear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, abox cam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivotedat one end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its otherend received in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said linkintermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box camrotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear toknotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during saidpredetermined intervals, a third shaft operating said gauge member, acam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said third shaftengaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at thebeginning of said predetermined intervals.

7. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted (a guidingand clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution ofthe coil spring with respect to the die), a pair of opposed slides forclamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and aknotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring aboutthe clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of afirst rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaftand rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaftcarried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gearfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mountedon the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear andthe other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated drivinggear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a boxcam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted atone end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other endreceived in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said linkintermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box camrotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear toknotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during saidpredetermined intervals, means including a third shaft rotating saidfirst shaft, a. fourth shaft operating said guiding and clamping member,a cam fixed to the third shaft, and a cam follower on said fourth shaftengaging said last mentioned cam for operating said guiding and clampingmember during said predetermined intervals.

8. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a gaugemember for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring forpositioning the same with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slidesfor clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and aknotter gear for wrapping the end of the Wire of the coil spring aboutthe clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of afirst rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaftand rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaftcarried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gearfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mountedon the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear andthe other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated drivinggear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a boxcam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted atone end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other endreceived in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said linkintermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box camrotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear toknotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during saidpredetermined intervals, a third rotating shaft, means interconnectingthe first and third rotating shafts to drive the same in synchronism, apair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides toward and away fromthe die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft for moving theslides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of the coilspring to the die during said predetermined intervals, a fourth shaftoperating said gauge member, a cam fixed to said first shaft, and a camfollower on said fourth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam foroperating said gauge member at the beginning of said predeterminedintervals.

9. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guidingand clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution ofthe coil spring with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides forclamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and aknotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring aboutthe clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of afirst rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaftand rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaftcarried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gearfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mountedon the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear andthe other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated drivinggear for roating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box camfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at oneend to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other endreceived in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said linkintermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box camrotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear toknotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during saidpredetermined intervals, a third rotating shaft, means including afourth rotating shaft interconnecting the first and third rotatingshafts to drive them in synchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operatingsaid opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pair of camsfixed to the 10 third shaft for moving the slides towardthe die forclamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die during saidpredetermined intervals, a fifth shaft operating said guiding andclamping member, a cam fixed on the fourth shaft, and a cam follower onsaid fifth shaft engaging said last mentioned cam for operating saidguiding and clamping member during said predetermined intervals. ltgglgl10. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guidingand clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution ofthe coil spring with respect to the die, a gauge member for engaging theend of the wire of the coil spring for positioning the same with respectto the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the end convolution ofthe coil spring to the die, and a knot-ter gear for Wrapping the end ofthe wire of the coil spring about the clamped end convolution thereof,the improvement consisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivotedat one end on said first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gearat its other end, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate itsends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotationtherewith, a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of saidgears meshing with the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshingat intervals with the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knottergear at predetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft forrotation therewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft andhaving a cam follower at its other end received in the box cam, andmeans for pivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, thearrangement being such that said box cam rotates said carriage aboutsaid first shaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at saidpredetermined intervals and said mutilated gear rotates said knottergear through said pair of gears during said predetermined intervals, athird rotating shaft, means including a fourth rotating shaftinterconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive them insynchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides towardand away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft formoving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of thecoil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals, a fifthshaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed on thefourth shaft, and a cam follower on said fifth shaft engaging said lastmentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member during saidpredetermined intervals, a sixth shaft operating said gauge member, acam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said sixth shaftengaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at thebeginning of said predetermined intervals.

11. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end' convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a pair ofopposed slides for clamping the end convolution of the coil spring tothe die, and a knotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coilspring about the clamped end convolution thereof, the improvementconsisting of a first rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end onsaid first shaft and rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its otherend, a second shaft carried by the carrier intermediate its ends, amutilated driving gear fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith,a pair of gears mounted on the second shaft, one of said gears meshingwith the knotter gear and the other of said gears meshing at intervalswith the mutilated driving gear for rotating said knotter gear atpredetermined intervals, a box cam fixed to the first shaft for rotationtherewith, a link pivoted at one end to the second shaft and having acam follower at its other end received in the box cam, and means forpivotally mounting said link intermediate its ends, the arrangementbeing such thats'aid box cam rotates said carriage about said firstshaft to move the knotter gear to knotting position at saidpredetermined inter- Ill vals and said mutilated gear rotates saidknotter gear through said pair of gears during said predeterminedintervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a low dwell and fixedto the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a member fixed to thepair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recess engaging thehigh dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotation of the pairof gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwell of thelocking cam is adjacent said member during said predetermined intervals,a third rotating shaft, means interconnecting the first and thirdrotating shafts to drive the same in synchronism, a pair of pivoted armsoperating said opposed slides toward and away from the die, and a pairof cams fixed to the third shaft for moving the slides toward the diefor clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die duringsaid predetermined intervals.

12. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a gaugemember for engaging the end of the wire of the coil spring forpositioning the same with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slidesfor clamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and aknotter gear for Wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring aboutthe clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of afirst rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaftand rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaftcarried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated riving gearfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mountedon the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear andthe other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated drivinggear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a boxcam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted atone end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other endreceived in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said linkintermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box camrotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear toknotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during saidpredetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a lowdwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a memberfixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recessengaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotationof the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwellof the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predeterminedintervals, a third shaft operating said gauge member, a cam fixed tosaid first shaft, and a cam follower on said third shaft engaging saidlast mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at the beginning ofsaid predetermined intervals.

13. In a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guidingand clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution ofthe coil spring with respect to the die, a pair of opposed slides forclamping the end convolution of the coil spring to the die, and aknotter gear for wrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring aboutthe clamped end convolution thereof, the improvement consisting of afirst rotating shaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaftand rotatably carrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaftcarried by the carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gearfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mountedon the second shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear andthe other of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated drivinggear for rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a boxcam fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted atone end to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other endreceived in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said linkintermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box camrotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear toknotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during saidpredetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a lowdwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a memberfixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recessenganging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotationof the pair of gears but permitting rotatien thereof when the low dwellof the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predeterminedintervals, means including a third shaft rotating said first shaft, afourth shaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed tothe third shaft, and a cam follower on said fourth shaft engaging saidlast mentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member duringsaid predetermined intervals.

14. in a knotting mechanism for knotting coil springs having a die forreceiving the end convolution of a coil spring to be knotted, a guidingand clamping member for guiding and positioning the end convolution ofthe coil spring with respect to the die, a gauge member for engaging theend of the wire of the coil spring for posi tioning the same withrespect to the die, a pair of opposed slides for clamping the endconvolution of the coil spring to the die, and a knotter gear forwrapping the end of the wire of the coil spring about the clamped endconvolution thereof, the improvement consisting of a first rotatingshaft, a carriage pivoted at one end on said first shaft and rotatablycarrying the knotter gear at its other end, a second shaft carried bythe carrier intermediate its ends, a mutilated driving gear fixed to thefirst shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gears mounted on thesecond shaft, one of said gears meshing with the knotter gear and theother of said gears meshing at intervals with the mutilated driving gearfor rotating said knotter gear at predetermined intervals, a box camfixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, a link pivoted at oneend to the second shaft and having a cam follower at its other endreceived in the box cam, and means for pivotally mounting said linkintermediate its ends, the arrangement being such that said box camrotates said carriage about said first shaft to move the knotter gear toknotting position at said predetermined intervals and said mutilatedgear rotates said knotter gear through said pair of gears during saidpredetermined intervals, a locking cam having a high dwell and a lowdwell and fixed to the first shaft for rotation therewith, and a memberfixed to the pair of gears adjacent the locking cam and having a recessengaging the high dwell of the locking cam normally to prevent rotationof the pair of gears but permitting rotation thereof when the low dwellof the locking cam is adjacent said member during said predeterminedintervals, a

third rotating shaft, means including a fourth rotating shaftinterconnecting the first and third rotating shafts to drive them insynchronism, a pair of pivoted arms operating said opposed slides towardand away from the die, and a pair of cams fixed to the third shaft formoving the slides toward the die for clamping the end convolution of thecoil spring to the die during said predetermined intervals, a fifthshaft operating said guiding and clamping member, a cam fixed on thefourth shaft, and a cam follower on said fifth shaft engaging said lastmentioned cam for operating said guiding and clamping member during saidpredetermined intervals, a sixth shaft operating said gauge member, acam fixed to said first shaft, and a cam follower on said sixth shaftengaging said last mentioned cam for operating said gauge member at thebeginning of said predetermined intervals.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,429,253 Rhenstrom Sept. 19, 1922 1,993,162 Gritz Mar. 5, 19352,604,202 Wunderlich July 22, 1952

